July 20, 2007
By Allen Madding

Allen Madding

Brett Bodine was born on January 11th, 1959 the middle of the three Bodine brothers, Geoff and Todd. Brett began racing hobby cars at Chemung Speedrome in 1977. He progressed to the modifieds in the Northeast 1980. And in 1984, he won the track championship at Stafford (CT) Motor Speedway.

In 1985, Bodine made his debut in NASCAR competition driving the No. 5 Levi Garrett Chevy owned by Robert Gee in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series. Bodine won his second event in the Busch Series, the Miller 200 at Martinsville. He qualified on the pole for the Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, won the Tri-City Pontiac 200 at Bristol, qualified on the pole and won the Sandhills 200 at Rockingham, and qualified on the pole for the Winn Dixie 500 at Martinsville.

In 1986, Bodine finished the Busch Series season runner-up for Busch Series championship, winning twice and scoring 8 poles. He was also voted Most Popular Driver. On May 25, 1986, Bodine made his Winston Cup Series debut in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving the No. 2 Exxon Chevy owned by Rick Hendrick. He finished 17th.

In 1987, Bodine made 14 events in the Winston Cup Series driving the No. 1 Bull’s Eye Barbecue Sauce Chevrolet owned by Hoss Ellington. He completed the full season in the Busch Series driving the No. 00 Thomas Brothers Country Ham Oldsmobile qualifying on the pole 8 times.

In 1988, Bodine began racing Winston Cup full-time in the Crisco No. 15 Ford for car owner Bud Moore. In 1989, Motorcraft was signed as the primary sponsor. In 1990, Bodine and Moore split ways and Bodine signed with Kenny Bernstein to drive the No. 26 Quaker State Buick. In their seventh outing together, Bodine won the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro. Bodine also qualified on the pole for the Mello Yello 500 at Charlotte. He placed 12th in the points and recorded 1 pole, 1 win, and 9 top-10s.

In 1995, Bodine left the No. 26 Quaker State Buick to drive the No. 11 Lowes Ford for Junior Johnson. In 1996, Bodine purchased the team from Johnson. After two dismal seasons, Lowes left Bodine to sponsor the No. 31 Richard Childress owned team for 1997.

Bodine signed Close Call phone service as the primary sponsor. Close Call opted out 6 races before the end of the season citing poor performance by the team.

Bodine signed Paychex as the primary sponsor for the 1998 season. After two consecutive seasons without a top-10 finish, Paychex left Bodine’s operation as well.

Bodine signed Ralph’s Supermarket as the primary sponsor for the 2000 season. Ralph’s left the team after the 2001 season due to poor performance.

Bodine signed Hooter’s Restaurant sponsorship by the fourth race of the 2002 season. In 2003, after 6 events and failing to qualify for several events, Hooter’s abandon the Bodine operation, citing poor team performance.

After failing to secure sponsorship for 2004, Bodine accepted a position as an engineer at the NASCAR Research and Development facility in Charlotte, working in the Special Products Division.

In 18 years of competition with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Bodine charted 480 starts, 1 win, 5 poles, 16 top-5’s, and 61 top-10’s. In 6 years in the NASCAR Busch Series, Bodine recorded 77 starts, 5 wins, 16 poles, 31 top-5’s, and 52 top-10’s. Bodine made 3 starts in the Truck Series without recording a top-10 finish.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.